Title

Author

Faculty Advisor

Heilman, Destin

Faculty Advisor

Wobbe, Kristin K

Abstract

Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV2) is a homolog of Chicken Anemia Virus (CAV). CAV Viral Protein 3 (VP3) engages in cell-type specific localization: nuclear in transformed cells and cytoplasmic in primary cells. CAV VP3 leads to the induction of apoptosis within transformed cells. A structure-function analysis of PCV2 VP3 was conducted by performing an alignment of the PCV2a VP3, PCV2b VP3 and CAV VP3 genomes. The gene of interest was cloned into the eGFP vector and expressed in H1299 and MRC-5 cells. Expression of this protein indicates cytoplasmic localization within both cell types. This localization pattern differs from that of CAV VP3, yet both proteins are involved in the induction of apoptosis. As a result, PCV2 VP3 may function via a mechanism of action different than that of CAV VP3.

Publisher

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Date Accepted

April 2008

Major

Humanities and Arts

Major

Biochemistry

Project Type

Major Qualifying Project

Additional files

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